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NO HEAVEN LYING IN WAIT, JUST HELL
Thai women recall ordeal working as prostitutes in the Bahraini capitalStory by NAUVARAT SUKSAMRAN
Three women sat nervously in a small room at the Thai embassy in Bahrain and began to recall their years in the capital where they once held out hope of making a fortune.
"We never thought the heaven we were promised would turn out to be like working in hell," one said.
The three fled their workplace to the embassy, which they saw as their last hope for getting home to Thailand.
Bao, Tong, and Uoom worked here illegally as prostitutes. They are among hundreds of Thai women who have been lured to work in Manama with the promise of excellent pay.
But after only one month living here, their passports and plane tickets were seized and the women were made "service machines," each of whom had to please up to five customers a day.
"I was angry when I saw the mamasan take all the money I made from guests," said Ms Bao, an Ubon Ratchathani woman who is now 32.
Sofia, as Ms Bao and her friends call her, is an experienced mamasan. She worked in Japan before moving to Manama, known by Muslims in nearby countries as a place where they can escape from strict religious practices.
The three had to pay up to 150,000 baht to their mamasans, who told them they could earn as much as they liked in Manama. The women agreed, but found out only later that they would be given only as much money as they needed to stay alive.
One reason Thai girls come here is that Bahrain does not demand they apply for a visa, said Ms Bao. To avoid the scrutiny of immigration officials, some women apply for a tourist visa to the United Arab Emirates first, and then fly to Bahrain, which is just one hour away, she added.
They are allowed to stay one month, but many overstay their visas and work.
Women working here are aged between 18 and nearly 40, including women from Russia, China, Lebanon, and Thailand.
Some are attractive, well educated; some have family problems, but they all share a same goal: earning money. Their dreams are not always fulfilled, however.
Ms Bao still has no money and meanwhile has detected a lump in her breast. Ms Tong suffers sinus problems and gets frequent nose bleeds. Ms Uoom was injured and forced to work harder to give brothel owners their money.
"My mamasan slapped my face publicly in coffee shops," she said.
The three still want to earn money to pay off family debts or help their ailing parents, but they vow not to come back to Bahrain again even though it may promise them a good income.
The embassy has sent 300 Thai women back to Thailand. Ambassador Phitak Phrombubpha said the Foreign Ministry has to pay more than 20 million baht a year to help Thais living and working legally here.
At present, there are only 4,000 Thais who are allowed to work legally in the country.
Mr Phitak warned Thai women against rushing to work here, because there was no "heaven" lying in wait, as many are promised. Prostitution is illegal and against religious practices here, he said.
Ms Uoom will go to the Pavena Foundation in Bangkok today to lodge a complaint about her suffering. The other two are still in Manama.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/30Apr2007_news04.php
Thai women recall ordeal working as prostitutes in the Bahraini capitalStory by NAUVARAT SUKSAMRAN
Three women sat nervously in a small room at the Thai embassy in Bahrain and began to recall their years in the capital where they once held out hope of making a fortune.
"We never thought the heaven we were promised would turn out to be like working in hell," one said.
The three fled their workplace to the embassy, which they saw as their last hope for getting home to Thailand.
Bao, Tong, and Uoom worked here illegally as prostitutes. They are among hundreds of Thai women who have been lured to work in Manama with the promise of excellent pay.
But after only one month living here, their passports and plane tickets were seized and the women were made "service machines," each of whom had to please up to five customers a day.
"I was angry when I saw the mamasan take all the money I made from guests," said Ms Bao, an Ubon Ratchathani woman who is now 32.
Sofia, as Ms Bao and her friends call her, is an experienced mamasan. She worked in Japan before moving to Manama, known by Muslims in nearby countries as a place where they can escape from strict religious practices.
The three had to pay up to 150,000 baht to their mamasans, who told them they could earn as much as they liked in Manama. The women agreed, but found out only later that they would be given only as much money as they needed to stay alive.
One reason Thai girls come here is that Bahrain does not demand they apply for a visa, said Ms Bao. To avoid the scrutiny of immigration officials, some women apply for a tourist visa to the United Arab Emirates first, and then fly to Bahrain, which is just one hour away, she added.
They are allowed to stay one month, but many overstay their visas and work.
Women working here are aged between 18 and nearly 40, including women from Russia, China, Lebanon, and Thailand.
Some are attractive, well educated; some have family problems, but they all share a same goal: earning money. Their dreams are not always fulfilled, however.
Ms Bao still has no money and meanwhile has detected a lump in her breast. Ms Tong suffers sinus problems and gets frequent nose bleeds. Ms Uoom was injured and forced to work harder to give brothel owners their money.
"My mamasan slapped my face publicly in coffee shops," she said.
The three still want to earn money to pay off family debts or help their ailing parents, but they vow not to come back to Bahrain again even though it may promise them a good income.
The embassy has sent 300 Thai women back to Thailand. Ambassador Phitak Phrombubpha said the Foreign Ministry has to pay more than 20 million baht a year to help Thais living and working legally here.
At present, there are only 4,000 Thais who are allowed to work legally in the country.
Mr Phitak warned Thai women against rushing to work here, because there was no "heaven" lying in wait, as many are promised. Prostitution is illegal and against religious practices here, he said.
Ms Uoom will go to the Pavena Foundation in Bangkok today to lodge a complaint about her suffering. The other two are still in Manama.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/30Apr2007_news04.php
posted by prisonerno3 at 7:25 AM
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